Combined reclining exercising and massaging device



Nov. 25, 1969 J, w, sELLNE Re. 26,725

COMBINED RECLINING EXERCISING AND MASSAGING DEVICE Original Filed Dec.16, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Nov. 25, 1969 J. w. SELLNER 26,725

COMBINED RECLINING EXEBCISING AND MASSAGING DEVICE Original Filed Dec.16, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

United States Patent made by reissue.

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A reclining and exercising device having adouble M- shaped adjustable base and a pair f pivotally interconnecredbody supporting frame members supported within the base member byflexible members pivolally mounted on each side of the base member.

This invention relates to reclining and exercising devices and refersmore particularly to such a device actuated by the individual userthereof, or power driven, as may be desired, said device being operableto var1ous positions for use as a body supporting, exercising andmassaging device.

More specifically it refers or relates to an attachment to saidapparatus, and forming part thereof, which upon activation of theapparatus, will massage portions of the human body during stretching andexercising of the body upon the apparatus, whether self administered oractrvated by suitable power driven means, whichever may be desired.

The invention also specifically refers to improvements in constructionand assembly of the device whereby stability of the supporting elementsis assured, better balance effected, and smoother operation of theentire combined apparatus thus attained.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means whereby thedevice may be assembled or unassembled for use with a minimum of timeand effort.

These objects as well as others may be better comprehended in the courseof the following description of an apparatus embodying the invention andtaken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a body supporting, exercising andmassaging device in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the device showing the membersthereof in an attitude of use different from FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation showing the members of the device in stillanother attitude of use.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the device embodying the invention.

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation showing a modification of the supportingframe of the apparatus.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view taken from below the device of thatportion of the assembly embodying the massaging element.

FIGURE 7 shows a detailed enlarged portion of the supporting frameillustrated in FIGURE 5.

In FIGURES l, 2, 3, 4 and 6, there is illustrated a reclining and bodyexercising apparatus 10, in which are shown the body supporting elementsof the apparatus including tubular frame sections 11 and 12 pivotallysecured together at their flattened end points at the center of theentire body supporting section. In greater "ice detail in FIGURE 4, ends13 and 14 of frame sections 11 and 12, hinged at 15 are shown, as wellas ends 16 and 17 of frame sections 11 and 12, hinged at 13.

A canvas or other suitable flexible covering 19 is stretched over theframe composed of elements 11 and 12, and is held in place thereon byclamps or other securing means (not shown) as may be available.

Pivotally interconnected frame sections 11 and 12 are mounted in tubularbase members 20 and 21, by flexible members or slings 24-24 below theapexes 22 and 23 of said base members to afford a lower center ofgravity of the entire assembly, and thus insuring greater stabilitythereto. These strap slings or members 24-24 have, in the apparatus ashere illustrated, bearings at each end indicated at 24a and 24b.Although this strap member has been found to be elfective, applicantdoes not wish to limit himself to the specific construction as shown, aschains or other flexible supports may be employed.

The tubular base members 20-21 are so formed and shaped as to be spacedapart laterally at 32-32 and longitudinally at 33-33 to form a tapereddouble M shape and thus assure a maximum of stability to the entireassembly.

Below one end of the body supporting frame at 13 and 16, see FIGURE 6,and extending downward in an arc therefrom, is a member 25, secured bywelding or otherwise to frame ends 13 and 16. To this arched member 25is pivotally secured at 28 by adjustable member 27, a curved rod or pipemember 26, which extends past the junction of the frame sections atpoints 15 and 18, and has its forward end rigidly secured to the centerof a U shaped member 29 at point 26a. This U-shaped member is flexiblysecured to sections 14 and 17 of the body supporting frame by springs30-30 in such a manner as to exert sustained pressure of the U-shapedmember and a plurality of soft sponge rubber balls 31-31b supportedbetween the upper ends of the U-shaped member on rod 31a, against theunderside of the flexible cover 19, so that in operation of theexercising portion of the apparatus, more specifically, thereciprocating movement of the body supporting member, the massagingassembly will be actuated to massage those portions of the operatorsbody resting over the point of contact of the rubber balls with theunderside of the fabric cover 19. It has been found practical to havethe balls 31-31 of larger diameter than the balls 31b-31b, so that inuse the massaging action will be accentuated adjacent the ends of theball supporting rod 31a, and reduced adjacent the center of the rod.This arrangement provides greater massage manipulation on the muscles ofthe operators back when said operator lies supine upon the bodysupporting member 10, with his back resting upon the covering fabric 19.

In FIGURES 5 and 7, an alternative supporting section of the apparatusis shown composed of two inverted V- shaped tubular members 34-34,shaped as shown and hinged at points 35-35 to be movable longitudinallyto elevate or depress the hinged portions of the members, and soconformed at the base 3636 of the supporting members to rigidly formlateral spacing between the parallel sides of said members. A flexibleband 37 is provided, having closely spaced grommets 38 therein, whichare secured in base 36 over bolts 40-40 extending upward from the base,and secured thereon by thumb screws 39- 39 in the desired position, andsecured sufficiently to prevent longitudinal slippage of the basemembers, thus avoiding possible collapse.

The body supporting frame 10 may be secured by flexible members 24-24from hinge points 35-35 in the same manner as it is suspended from thebase assembly shown in FIGURE 1 through FIGURE 4.

The inverted V members are shown in FIGURES 5 and 7 in juxtaposition andsecured by flexible band 37 so that they are equal in height from baseto apex. The height may be varied between the adjacent members byincreasing or decreasing the angle formed at the hinges 3535, to allowone-half of this base assembly to be more elevated than the other half,and then secured in this position, by first adjusting the flexible bandover the bolts and then securing the thumb screws in place.

What I claim is:

1. A combination body supporting, exercising and massaging devicecomprising a pair of pivotally interconnected body supporting framemembers, a longitudinally adjustable base member, flexible membersmounted pivotally on each side of said base member and securing saidbody supporting member within said base member, a massaging devicecomprising a supported curved member extended below and rigidly securedto each side of one of the body supporting members, an arched memberbelow the other body supporting member and extending between the twosides of the other body supporting member, spring members connecting theends of the arched member to the sides of the other body supportingmember, a rigid rod having one end rigidly connected at one end to saidarched member and at the other end pivotally connected to said curvedmember, a plurality of soft rubber balls of varying sizes mounted withinsaid arched member and so arranged as to massage a human body restingupon the body supporting members when the device is actuated.

2. In a device of the character described, comprising two pivotallyinterconnected body supporting frame members, a double M-shaped basemember, means within said base member to adjust same longitudinally,flexible means mounted pivotally on each side of said base member andsecuring the body supporting member within said base member, massagingmeans comprising a supported curved member extending below and rigidlysecured to both sides of one of the body supporting members, an archedmember below the other body supporting member and extending between thetwo sides of the other body supporting memhot, spring members securingthe ends of the arched member to the sides of the other body supportingmember, a rigid rod having one of its ends solidly secured to saidarched member and its other end pivotally connected to said curvedmember, a plurality of sponge rubber balls of varying diameters mountedwithin said arched member and so arranged as to massage a human bodyresting upon the body supporting members when the device is actuated.

3. A body supporting and exercising device comprising a pair ofelongated frame sections disposed end-taend and connected together attheir adjacent ends to pivot relative to each other about a transverseaxis, a base member adapted to rest on the floor and including arespective upwardly extending sup port adjacent an intermediate portionof each side of each frame section, a separate respective upwardlyextending sling secured at its lower end to each side of a framesection, and means securing the upper end of each sling to a respectivesupport so the frame sections are supported between and below the upperends of the supports.

4. A device according to claim 3 in which each sling is secured at itsends to pivot about a transverse axis relative to the element to whichthe sling end is secured.

5 A body supporting and exercising device comprising a pair of elongatedU-shaped frame sections disposed cnd-to-end with the open ends of thetwo frame sections secured together to pivot relative to each otherabout a transverse axis, a cover over the frame sections, a transverseupwardly opening Ushapea' brace disposed under the frame sections, meanssecuring each end of the U- shaped brdce to at least one respective sideof a frame section adjacent the pivot point of the two frame sections, abase member adapted to rest on the floor and including a respectiveupwardly extending support adjacent an intermediate portion of ach sideof each frame section, a separate respective upwardly extenldt'ng slingsecured at its lower end to each side of a frame section; and meanssecuring the upper end of each sling to a respective support.

References Cited The following references, cited by the Examiner, are ofrecord in the patented file of this patent on the original patent.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,874,689 2/1959 Gavelik 12833 3,075,518 1/1963Sellner 12825 3,164,150 1/1965 Reid 128-57 3,005,633 10/1961 Riemer272-58 3,043,591 7/1962 Sellner 27258 3,075,518 1/1963 Sellner 128-25 L.W. TRAPP, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 27258 age UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No- Re. 26,725 D ted November25, 1969 Inventor(s) hn W. Sellner It is certified that error appears inthe above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 13, "These strap slings or members should read --Theseslings or strap members SIGNED AN SEALED JUL 2 81970 6 Arms:

Edward M. Fletcher, Irmrm E. susumm, JR. Ame-fins officer commissioneror Paton"

